2010 United Kingdom government formation

none December 2012 January 2020 2010 United Kingdom government formation Polling station 6 may 2010.jpg A polling station in Camberwell, London on 6 May 2010. 7 May 2010 – 12 May 2010 London, England, United Kingdom Hung parliament following the 2010 general election David Cameron George Osborne William Hague Oliver Letwin Ed Llewellyn Nick Clegg Chris Huhne Danny Alexander Andrew Stunell David Laws Gordon Brown Peter Mandelson Harriet Harman The Lord Adonis Ed Miliband Ed Balls Resignation of Gordon Brown as Leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition agreement Cameron–Clegg coalition Cameron premiership 2010 Labour Party leadership election The events surrounding the formation of the United Kingdom's government in 2010 took place between 7 May and 12 May 2010, following the 2010 general election, which failed to produce an overall majority for either of the country's two main political parties. The election, held on 6 May, resulted in the first hung parliament in the UK in 36 years, sparking a series of negotiations which would form the first coalition government since the Second World War. The governing Labour administration led by Gordon Brown was defeated in the election and lost its overall majority after 13 years in office, but continued in office in an acting capacity until a government could be formed. The opposition Conservative Party led by David Cameron, won the largest number of seats in the new Parliament, but fell short of the number required to secure an overall majority. Consequently, senior figures from both parties embarked on a series of meetings with representatives from the Liberal Democrats led by Nick Clegg, aimed at forming a coalition government. As leader of the third largest party, Clegg had announced that the Liberal Democrats would enter talks with whichever party held the greater number of seats. A series of meetings with the Conservatives began shortly after the hung parliament was announced, and continued over the weekend after the election. Negotiations were also held with the Labour Party. The Scottish National Party signalled its willingness to join Labour and the Liberal Democrats and other minor parties in government as part of a progressive rainbow coalition, but it quickly became clear that Gordon Brown's continued presence as Prime Minister was seen as a major obstacle to formulating a Labour–Liberal Democrat deal. Although Brown relinquished his role as Labour leader on 10 May, the party failed to reach an agreement with the Liberal Democrats; the latter instead struck a deal with the Conservatives the following day. Brown resigned as Prime Minister and Labour Leader on the evening of 11 May, and the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition government led by David Cameron took office shortly thereafter. The Liberal Democrats emerged from a meeting of their Parliamentary party and Federal Executive to announce that the coalition deal had been "approved overwhelmingly" shortly after midnight on 12 May, and later the same day the two parties published the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition agreement setting out the terms of their deal. While Cameron became Prime Minister, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister. Background Premiership of Tony Blair Premiership of Gordon Brown New Labour The Labour Party came into government under the leadership of Tony Blair in May 1997 following the electoral wipeout of the Conservative government, led by John Major; this ended 18 years of Conservative rule.Lawless Jill Quinn Jennifer http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9FKGLS00.htm https://archive.today/20130118140742/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9FKGLS00.htm dead 18 January 2013 Brown waited a decade for chance to lead Bloomberg L.P. Bloomberg BusinessWeek 11 May 2010 6 November 2012Emma Alberici http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-05-08/fears-british-minority-government-wont-last/426972 Fears British minority government won't last ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation 8 May 2010 6 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20161030060548/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-05-08/fears-british-minority-government-wont-last/426972 30 October 2016 https://www.economist.com/briefing/2010/04/29/things-could-only-get-better limited Things could only get better The Economist 29 April 2010 4 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20130214194735/http://www.economist.com/node/16004271 14 February 2013 Having secured a landslide victory with 418 seats in the House of Commons,Andrew Neather https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/glory-days-are-over--labour-needs-to-reinvent-itself-6466986.html Glory days are over ... Labour needs to reinvent itself London Evening Standard Daily Mail and General Trust 7 May 2010 6 November 2012 the party had a working majority of 179 seats,https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/gordon-brown/7706806/Gordon-Brown-to-resign-highs-and-lows-of-his-career-in-politics.html Gordon Brown to resign: highs and lows of his career in politics The Daily Telegraph 10 May 2010 6 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20120929012153/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/gordon-brown/7706806/Gordon-Brown-to-resign-highs-and-lows-of-his-career-in-politics.html 29 September 2012 and went on to win the 2001 and 2005 elections.https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/world/british-pm-gordon-brown-calls-general-election-for-may-6/news-story/0e38bde24d6b61115c80793649a7e974 British PM Gordon Brown calls general election for May 6 News Limited The Australian 6 April 2010 subscription 3 November 2012 During its first term in office Blair's government introduced many popular policies, including legislation to establish a national minimum wage, reducing the length of hospital waiting lists, and devolving lawmaking powers to Scotland and Wales. Blair also played a key role in the Northern Ireland peace process. His decision to commit British troops to the 2003 invasion of Iraq turned public opinion against him and lost him the support of some of his own MPs.John Kampfner https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/7728916/New-Labour-Where-did-it-all-go-wrong.html New Labour: Where did it all go wrong? The Daily Telegraph 15 May 2010 3 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20170219133622/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/7728916/New-Labour-Where-did-it-all-go-wrong.html 19 February 2017 When Blair stepped down as Prime Minister in June 2007, he was succeeded by his chancellor, Gordon Brown. Blair's decade-long premiership had been a time of economic boom for the United Kingdom, but Brown's tenure as Prime Minister was dominated by the global recession of the latter part of the 2000s.Sean O'Grady https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/gordon-browns-triumphalism-blamed-for-uks-record-deficit-1953068.html Gordon Brown's 'triumphalism' blamed for UK's record deficit Independent Print Limited The Independent 24 April 2010 3 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20100427004138/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/gordon-browns-triumphalism-blamed-for-uks-record-deficit-1953068.html 27 April 2010 Although commentators perceived Brown to have made some good decisions during the economic crisis, such as providing financial aid to several UK banks which found themselves in difficulty, the recapitalisation of the banks lead to a massive rise in national debt as the private debt accumulated by the banks became public.https://www.economist.com/culture/2010/12/29/oh-me-oh-my limited Gordon Brown's memoirs: Oh me, oh my: Why Gordon Brown won't be believed by everyone The Economist 29 December 2010 3 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20121022153713/http://www.economist.com/node/17796996 22 October 2012 Ruth Porter https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/9188869/Gordon-Browns-poisonous-legacy-lives-on.html Gordon Brown's poisonous legacy lives on The Daily Telegraph 5 April 2012 3 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20120627015209/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/9188869/Gordon-Browns-poisonous-legacy-lives-on.html 27 June 2012 He was also viewed by the media as someone who lacked interpersonal skills. Another major event that occurred during Brown's time in government was the 2009 scandal involving MPs expenses, which damaged the public's trust in politicians. By April 2010, almost five years had passed since the previous general election (held on 5 May 2005), requiring a fresh election to take place. On 6 April 2010, Brown went to Buckingham Palace to ask the Queen to dissolve Parliament on 12 April in preparation for a general election. In a press conference broadcast live from Downing Street, Brown announced the election would be held on 6 May.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8603591.stm Gordon Brown calls 6 May general election BBC News 6 April 2010 3 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20100408014038/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8603591.stm 8 April 2010 The time between the announcement of the election and the dissolution of Parliament, known as wash-up, was to allow for the handling of any unfinished legislative business before the Parliamentary session's conclusion. left|350px|thumb|A graph of YouGov poll results during the 2010 election campaign. Conservatives are shown in blue, Labour in red, Liberal Democrats in yellow and all other parties in grey. Labour campaigned to secure a fourth consecutive term in office and to restore support lost since 1997,General election 2010: Gordon Brown launches Labour manifesto with rallying cry to party Nicholas Watt https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/apr/12/gordon-brown-labour-manifesto-election The Guardian 12 April 2010 3 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20160313144512/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/apr/12/gordon-brown-labour-manifesto-election 13 March 2016 while the Conservative Party sought to gain a dominant position in British politics after losses in the 1990s, and to replace Labour as the governing party.General election 2010: David Cameron launches Conservative manifesto Nicholas Watt https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/apr/13/david-cameron-launches-conservative-manifesto The Guardian 13 April 2010 3 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20160314161926/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/apr/13/david-cameron-launches-conservative-manifesto 14 March 2016 The Liberal Democrats hoped to make gains from both sides, and possibly hold the balance of power in a hung parliament.Nick Clegg sets out demands for hung parliament Murray Wardrop https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7417641/Nick-Clegg-sets-out-demands-for-hung-parliament.html The Daily Telegraph 11 March 2010 3 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20100314074112/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7417641/Nick-Clegg-sets-out-demands-for-hung-parliament.html 14 March 2010 Following the televised debates between the three leaders – the first of their type during an election campaign in the United Kingdom – their poll ratings had risen to the point where many considered the possibility of a Liberal Democrat role in Government.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8628765.stm Election 2010: Lib Dem policies targeted by rivals BBC News 19 April 2010 3 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20100429150146/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8628765.stm 29 April 2010 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8621119.stm Election 2010: Three way clashes in historic TV debate BBC News 15 April 2010 4 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20100415033822/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8621119.stm 15 April 2010 While Cameron and Clegg were generally well received by the viewers of the three debates, Brown's performance was considered to have been less successful. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7696467/General-Election-2010-the-great-debate-election.html General Election 2010: the great debate election The Daily Telegraph 8 May 2010 4 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20121114052250/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7696467/General-Election-2010-the-great-debate-election.html 14 November 2012 Brown's image was further harmed when he privately described Gillian Duffy, a 65-year-old pensioner, as a "bigoted woman" after she raised the issue of benefits and immigration with him during a campaign trip to Rochdale, Greater Manchester.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8649476.stm Profile of Gillian Duffy, the voter PM called 'bigoted' BBC News 28 April 2010 4 November 2012 His remarks were recorded by a Sky News microphone he was still wearing as he was driven away from the visit, and were widely broadcast.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8649448.stm How Gordon Brown 'bigot' jibe row unfolded BBC News 28 April 2010 4 November 2012 Polls just before election day showed a slight swing from the Liberal Democrats back to Labour and the Conservatives, with most of final polls falling within one point of Conservatives 36%, Labour 28%, Liberal Democrats 27%.http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/archives/2688 Final poll of the campaign Anthony Wells UK Polling Report 6 May 2010 3 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20120405160500/http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/archives/2688 5 April 2012 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7117623.ece Tories scent victory as poll lead widens The Times News International subscription 6 May 2010 Peter Riddell Jill Sherman Roland Watson dead https://web.archive.org/web/20100506033539/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7117623.ece 6 May 2010 However, record numbers of undecided voters raised uncertainty about the outcome.https://www.ft.com/content/51d39a34-57dd-11df-855b-00144feab49a UK - Brown woos undecided voters Financial Times Pearson PLC 5 May 2010 Pickard Jim 3 November 2012https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a9eRFBXAs_Co&pos=9 Brown Placing Third May Win Most Seats as Undecided Hold Key Bloomberg News Bloomberg L. P. 27 April 2010 Jefferson Rodney Hutton Robert 3 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20100613163056/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087 13 June 2010 The Scottish National Party (SNP), encouraged by its victory in the 2007 Scottish Parliament elections, set itself a target of returning 20 MPs and hoped to find itself holding a balance of power.Salmond urges voters to 'achieve a balanced parliament' http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/scotland/8630998.stm BBC News 20 April 2010 3 November 2012 Equally, Plaid Cymru sought gains in Wales.General Election 2010: Plaid Cymru issues demands for hung parliament https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/plaid-cymru/7586648/General-Election-2010-Plaid-Cymru-issues-demands-for-hung-parliament.html The Daily Telegraph 14 April 2010 3 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20130303090411/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/plaid-cymru/7586648/General-Election-2010-Plaid-Cymru-issues-demands-for-hung-parliament.html 3 March 2013 In Northern Ireland, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) aimed to maintain or increase its number of seats, having been the fourth largest party in the House of Commons.Profile: Democratic Unionist Party http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/northern_ireland/8583776.stm BBC News 5 April 2010 4 November 2012DUP launches election manifesto http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/northern_ireland/8629263.stm BBC News 19 April 2010 4 November 2012 Smaller parties which had had successes at local elections and the 2009 European elections (UK Independence Party, Green Party, British National Party) aimed to extend their representation to seats in the House of Commons.Green Party election manifesto sets out £73bn of tax rises https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/green-party/7593669/Green-Party-election-manifesto-sets-out-73bn-of-tax-rises.html The Daily Telegraph 15 April 2010 3 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20110310192505/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/green-party/7593669/Green-Party-election-manifesto-sets-out-73bn-of-tax-rises.html 10 March 2011 Manifesto Watch: BNP launch Brian Wheeler http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8640729.stm BBC News 23 April 2010 3 November 2012 The election 2010 United Kingdom general election The general election was held on Thursday 6 May 2010 and saw an increase in voter turnout from 61% in 2005 to 65% in 2010. Throughout the day GfK NOP and Ipsos MORI conducted an exit poll on behalf of the BBC, Sky and ITV news services – the results of which were announced as the polls closed at 10:00 pm.Q&A: Election results http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8655330.stm BBC News 7 May 2010 29 October 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20170904174222/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8655330.stm 4 September 2017 Data gathered from individuals at 130 polling stations around the country suggested a hung parliament, with an initial estimate that the Conservative Party would achieve 307 seats – 19 seats short of a controlling majority.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8666227.stm Election exit poll: Tories to be 19 short of majority 6 May 2010 BBC News 16 December 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20120817135230/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8666227.stm 17 August 2012 UK set for hung Parliament with Tories largest party http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8666128.stm BBC News 7 May 2010 29 October 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20170904164501/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8666128.stm 4 September 2017 This deficit was later adjusted to 21 seats. The distribution of seats was initially predicted to be 307 to the Conservatives, 255 to Labour, 59 to the Liberal Democrats and 29 to the other parties, but these figures were later updated with a minor adjustment in Labour's favour.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/liveevent/ Live coverage – General Election 2010 BBC News 6 May 2010 16 December 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20120313183641/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/liveevent 13 March 2012 The apparently poor prospects for the Liberal Democrats were a surprise to commentators,http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8666266.stm Parties surprised by exit poll BBC News 6 May 2010 16 December 2011 as many previous opinion polls had indicated they would receive more seats. A later BBC exit poll published at 5:36 am on Friday 7 May predicted the Conservatives on 306, 20 short of an overall majority, with Labour on 262, and the Liberal Democrats on 55. At 9:41am on 7 May, the BBC confirmed a "hung parliament", as it was by then impossible for the Conservative party to gain the number of seats needed to form a majority government.Graeme MacKay http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/22804/20100507/general-election-2010-hung-parliament.htm https://archive.today/20130624233409/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/22804/20100507/general-election-2010-hung-parliament.htm dead 24 June 2013 A hanged parliament International Business Times 7 May 2010 24 June 2013 326 seats were required for a technical majority, but only 323 were necessary for a practical majority, as the five Sinn Féin MPs were expected to boycott the House of Commons. At that time the Conservatives stood at 290 seats, Labour at 247 and Liberal Democrats at 51.http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7119226.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797084 Britain wakes up to a hung Parliament 7 May 2010 The Times News International subscription 16 December 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20100528080411/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7119226.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797084 28 May 2010 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/default.stm BBC BBC News Election 2010 7 May 2010 16 December 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20120311112449/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/default.stm 11 March 2012 The final results put the Conservatives on 306 seats, Labour on 258, and the Liberal Democrats on 57. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/Tories-set-to-lead-coalition-as-UK-gets-hung-House/articleshow/5904676.cms https://archive.today/20130103114523/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-05-08/uk/28322320_1_mps-vote-lib-dems-tories live 3 January 2013 Tories set to lead coalition as UK gets hung House 8 May 2010 The Times of India 28 October 2012 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8670038.stm Election 2010: Labour MP John Mann urges Brown to step down BBC News 8 May 2010 28 October 2012 thumb|right|The make-up of the House of Commons following the 2010 general election. No party achieved an overall majority. Of the 532 seats contested in England, the Conservatives won an absolute majority of 61 seats and secured an average swing of 5.6% from Labour. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/region/48.stm Election 2010: England BBC News 7 May 2010 16 December 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20100507122159/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/region/48.stm 7 May 2010 The last seat to be elected, Thirsk and Malton, was contested on 27 May because one of the candidates died.Thirsk and Malton election postponed after candidate John Boakes dies Mark Stead http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/8115410.Election_off_in_North_Yorks__after_candidate_dies/ The Press Newsquest 23 April 2010 3 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20121005185451/http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/8115410.Election_off_in_North_Yorks__after_candidate_dies/ 5 October 2012 All of Scotland's 59 seats were won by the parties that won them at the 2005 election, with Labour regaining the two seats they lost in by-elections since 2005.Johnson Simon https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7689913/General-Election-2010-Labour-tightens-grip-on-Scotland.html General Election 2010: Labour tightens grip on Scotland The Daily Telegraph 7 May 2010 28 May 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20140412071404/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7689913/General-Election-2010-Labour-tightens-grip-on-Scotland.html 12 April 2014 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/scotland/8666148.stm Election 2010: The full story: Scotland's general election results BBC News 7 May 2010 28 October 2012 Labour increased its share of the vote by 2.5% and the Conservatives by 0.9%, giving a swing from the Conservatives to Labour of 0.8%. The Conservatives won only one Scottish constituency,http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/region/7.stm Election 2010 | Results | Scotland BBC News 7 May 2010 28 October 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20120306190402/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/region/7.stm 6 March 2012 while the SNP – which had hoped to increase its share of seats from seven to 20 – failed to make any headway. 40 seats were contested in Wales, where the Conservative share rose from three seats to eight, taking one from the Liberal Democrats and four from Labour. Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru gained one extra seat, Arfon, from Labour. Overall, Labour lost four seats but remained the biggest party in Wales with 26 seats.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/region/10.stm Election 2010 | Results | Wales BBC News 7 May 2010 28 October 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20120312111939/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/region/10.stm 12 March 2012 18 seats were contested in Northern Ireland, where both Irish nationalist parties, Sinn Féin and the SDLP, held their seats, the unionist UUP (in an electoral pact with the Conservatives) lost their only seat and the DUP lost a seat. This left the nationalist parties with eight seats, the unionist parties with eight seats (all DUP), the Alliance Party with one seat and an independent unionist with one seat. It was the first time since the Partition of Ireland that unionist parties had failed to secure a majority of Northern Ireland's Westminster seats in a general election.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/northern_ireland/8666191.stm The full story: Northern Ireland election night BBC News 7 May 2010 28 October 2012 Initial statements and negotiations thumb|upright|Conservative leader David Cameron seen leaving St Stephen's Club on the afternoon of 7 May 2010, the day his party began negotiations with the Liberal Democrats to form a government. With no single party having achieved an overall majority, the 2010 general election resulted in the first hung parliament since 1974. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8667071.stm Election 2010: First hung parliament in UK for decades BBC News 7 May 2010 16 December 2011 When it became clear that no party would achieve the outright majority needed to form the next government, the three main party leaders made public statements offering to discuss the options for putting together an administration with the other parties. Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg called on Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Conservative leader David Cameron to act "in the national interest and not out of narrow party political advantage". However, having stated before the election that the party with the most seats should have the initial say on forming a government, Clegg announced his intention to begin talks with the Conservative Party. Speaking outside the Liberal Democrat headquarters he said: "It is now for the Conservative Party to prove that it is capable of seeking to govern in the national interest."http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8667121.stm Election 2010: Clegg 'disappointed' at Lib Dem results BBC News 7 May 2010 18 December 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20120314132803/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8667121.stm 14 March 2012 Brown said he intended to play his part in securing "a stable, strong and principled government", and indicated his willingness to speak with both Clegg and Cameron on how to achieve this, saying: "What we have seen are no ordinary election results."http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8666569.stm Election 2010: Brown 'would talk' to Cameron and Clegg BBC News 7 May 2010 18 December 2011 But shortly after, Cameron held a press conference at which he invited the Liberal Democrats to talks, saying: "I want to make a big, open and comprehensive offer to the Liberal Democrats. I want us to work together in tackling our country's big and urgent problems - the debt crisis, our deep social problems and our broken political system."http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8667938.stm Election: Cameron makes offer to Lib Dems on government BBC News 7 May 2010 18 December 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20120313133152/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8667938.stm 13 March 2012 Under the constitutional rules governing protocol in the event of a hung parliament, Brown, as the sitting prime minister, would remain in office until a new government could be formed, a process which could continue until resolution. On Brown's instructions, Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell had updated the protocol for dealing with a hung parliament earlier in the year. Following confirmation that no party had achieved an overall majority, Brown authorised O'Donnell to begin the process. Four-member teams of civil servants were sent to liaise with the main political parties to facilitate negotiations. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/may/07/hung-parliament-david-cameron-momentum Hung parliament: David Cameron has momentum, but Brown still has power The Guardian Alan Travis 7 May 2010 16 December 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20131214115708/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/may/07/hung-parliament-david-cameron-momentum 14 December 2013 Cameron's willingness to hold talks with the Liberal Democrats was interpreted by BBC News political editor Nick Robinson as hinting at the possibility that Liberal Democrat MPs could serve as part of a Cabinet. On the afternoon of 7 May, Cameron and Clegg spoke by telephone and had what the BBC reported as a "very constructive" conversation. By that evening exploratory talks between teams of senior representatives from the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives had begun. The Liberal Democrats team consisted of Chris Huhne, Danny Alexander, Andrew Stunell and David Laws, while George Osborne, William Hague, Oliver Letwin and Ed Llewellyn made up the Conservative team. Further talks By the morning of Saturday 8 May, talks between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats were fully underway. A 70-minute meeting at Admiralty House in Westminster was described by both parties as being "constructive and amicable", and another meeting was scheduled for the following day. At a private meeting that evening, Cameron and Clegg held the first of a series of talks to discuss the negotiations. Members of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party had earlier met at Local Government House to discuss the coalition talks.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8669508.stm Lib Dem leadership 'endorses' Clegg's Tory talks BBC News 8 May 2010 19 December 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20100511155626/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8669508.stm 11 May 2010 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7696497/General-Election-2010-protests-at-Lib-Dem-meeting-over-proportional-representation.html General Election 2010: protests at Lib Dem meeting over proportional representation The Daily Telegraph 8 May 2010 19 December 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20130216053130/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7696497/General-Election-2010-protests-at-Lib-Dem-meeting-over-proportional-representation.html 16 February 2013 thumb|upright|Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg held face-to-face talks with his Conservative counterpart. One of the chief issues that the Liberal Democrats wished to address in any coalition agreement was that of electoral reform, and as Party members debated the negotiations, a 1,000 strong crowd of protesters from the pressure group 38 Degrees gathered outside. Amid chants of "Fair votes now" and "We want to speak to Nick", Clegg briefly left the meeting to accept a petition and told the protesters, "Reforming politics is one of the reasons I went into politics." Following the meeting, a Liberal Democrats negotiator, David Laws, said members had "endorsed in full" the strategy outlined by Clegg that the Conservatives should have first choice in negotiations on forming a government. Clegg also met with the party's federal executive, which also endorsed Clegg's decision. http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/vote_2010/clegg+pledges+reform+as+protest+calls+for+aposfair+votesapos/3640987 No Tory/Lib Dem deal before Monday Channel 4 Television Channel 4 News 8 May 2010 16 December 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20100510230016/http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/vote_2010/clegg+pledges+reform+as+protest+calls+for+aposfair+votesapos/3640987 10 May 2010 8 May 2010 was the 65th anniversary of VE Day – which marked the victory of the Allied Forces over Nazi Germany and the end of the Second World War in Europe – and celebrations were held to mark the occasion. The leaders of all three parties attended a ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8669508.stm Lib Dem leadership 'endorses' Clegg's Tory talks BBC News 8 May 2010 16 December 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20100511155626/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8669508.stm 11 May 2010 After the ceremony, Brown flew to his family home in Scotland, but remained ready to negotiate with the Liberal Democrats if no deal with the Conservatives was reached. Labour denied reports of a heated telephone conversation between Brown and Clegg, and support among Brown's Cabinet colleagues remained strong, but one backbencher, John Mann, urged Brown to step aside as Labour leader before the party conference in September, arguing that Brown's continued leadership "rules out the credibility of a Lib/Lab pact". Negotiations continue On Sunday 9 May, senior negotiators from the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives embarked on six hours of talks at the Cabinet Office, which were described as "very positive and productive". William Hague emerged from the discussions to say, "The issues that we have covered have included political reform, economic issues and reduction of the deficit, banking reform, civil liberties, environmental issues. So, we've had good discussions about all of those areas. We are agreed that a central part of any agreement that we make will be economic stability and the reduction of the budget deficit, but each negotiating team is now going to report to our party leaders."http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8670559.stm Tories and Lib Dems 'positive' after talks BBC News 9 May 2010 20 December 2011 As the negotiations were taking place, Gordon Brown returned to Downing Street and held a meeting with Nick Clegg at the Foreign Office. A Downing Street spokesman later confirmed the talks, together with the previous evening's telephone conversation between Brown and Clegg, which was described as "an amicable discussion." However, Paddy Ashdown – a previous Liberal Democrat leader – offered a different view of the Brown-Clegg conference call, telling the BBC it "was a diatribe, a rant, and that Gordon Brown was threatening in his approach to Nick Clegg." Following the success of the talks between their two parties, Clegg and Cameron held a second round of face-to-face discussions at Westminster that evening, lasting 45 minutes. While negotiations continued to form the next administration, the business of government continued with the previous incumbents.This included ministers who no longer held seats in Parliament; their government roles continued until a new administration could be formed.Joanna Gosling http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8673509.stm What role for ministers? BBC News 10 May 2010 25 May 2013 In this respect Chancellor Alistair Darling flew to Brussels to attend a meeting of European finance ministers. In London, Brown held meetings with Business Secretary Peter Mandelson, his deputy leader Harriet Harman, Secretary of State for Energy Ed Miliband and Tony Blair's former special adviser Alastair Campbell. Brown also sent an email to party activists in which he thanked them for their work during the election campaign. It concluded "The past few days have seen us enter a political landscape not considered possible a few short weeks ago - with the outcome of the election leading to no single party able to form a majority government. My duty as prime minister has been to seek to resolve this situation." Several senior Labour backbenchers, including MP George Howarth called on Brown to step down. Labour enters the picture thumb|200px|right|Labour leader Gordon Brown was seen as a major stumbling block to forming a coalition with the Liberal Democrats. Monday 10 May saw another day of talks between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, but at a meeting with his MPs, Nick Clegg was urged to give assurances over offers which were being made by David Cameron's team. They also wished him to continue negotiations with Labour. During the day it emerged that senior Labour and Liberal Democrat representatives had held discussions about forming a coalition, but that one of the barriers to this was the continued presence of Gordon Brown as prime minister.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8672859.stm Gordon Brown 'stepping down as Labour leader' BBC News 10 May 2010 20 December 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20100513074419/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8672859.stm 13 May 2010 https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/may/10/labour-liberal-democrats-conservative-coalition Labour prepares to pounce if Liberal Democrat-Conservative coalition talks fail The Guardian Patrick Wintour 10 May 2010 16 December 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20140204043237/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/may/10/labour-liberal-democrats-conservative-coalition 4 February 2014 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/liberaldemocrats/7709494/Liberal-Democrats-pave-way-for-Labour-coalition-as-recriminations-grow.html Liberal Democrats pave way for Labour coalition as recriminations grow The Daily Telegraph Andrew Porter 10 May 2010 16 December 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20100602230721/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/liberaldemocrats/7709494/Liberal-Democrats-pave-way-for-Labour-coalition-as-recriminations-grow.html 2 June 2010 At 5:00 pm that afternoon Brown announced that he would step down as Labour leader by September. In a statement he said that he intended to "[A]sk the Labour Party to set in train the processes needed for its own leadership election." The statement went on to say, "I would hope that it would be completed in time for the new leader to be in post by the time of the Labour Party conference. I will play no part in that contest, I will back no individual candidate." He also urged any prospective candidates for the position to wait until coalition negotiations were complete before announcing their candidacy. Following this announcement, formal talks began between Labour and the Liberal Democrats, with Labour's negotiating team consisting of Peter Mandelson, Harriet Harman, Andrew Adonis, Ed Miliband and Ed Balls.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7708845/General-Election-2010-as-it-happened-10-May.html General Election 2010 as it happened: 10 May The Telegraph Moore Matthew Hutchison Peter Roberts Laura Hough Andrew Collins Nick 10 May 2010 26 February 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20100514084642/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7708845/General-Election-2010-as-it-happened-10-May.html 14 May 2010 live Reports have suggested that Labour's negotiating team has been meeting the Lib Dems comprises y of Lord Mandelson, Harriet Harman, Lord Adonis, Ed Miliband and Ed Balls. However, many in Labour felt that a coalition with the Liberal Democrats was an unrealistic prospect since it would still fall short of the 326 seats needed to form a majority government, with 315 seats to the Conservatives' 306. Labour MP Graham Stringer said, "I don't think it makes sense in the arithmetic – the numbers don't add up." However, in his account of Labour's negotiations with the Liberal Democrats, Andrew Adonis – who participated in the talks – writes that the general consensus among members of Gordon Brown's cabinet was that talks between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats would reach an impasse. "[The] process would turn to our favour once the Tories and Lib Dems had rehearsed the extent of their differences".Nick Cohen https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/may/13/5-days-may-adonis-review 5 Days in May: The Coalition and Beyond by Andrew Adonis – review The Observer Guardian Media Group 12 May 2013 25 May 2013 live https://web.archive.org/web/20131221104717/http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/may/13/5-days-may-adonis-review 21 December 2013 With Labour now attempting to form its own coalition government, the Conservatives promised the Liberal Democrats a referendum on changing the voting mechanism to the alternative vote (AV) system. In response Labour said that it would introduce AV then hold a public referendum to approve it. In a statement outlining his decision to negotiate with Labour, Clegg said that although his party had made progress with the Conservatives, they had not "reached a comprehensive partnership agreement for a full Parliament" and negotiating with Labour was the "responsible thing to do". The possibility of some SNP involvement in a Labour-led government materialised when Angus Robertson, the SNP's leader in the House of Commons suggested its MPs would be willing to join Labour, the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and MPs from other smaller parties to form a rainbow coalition.Watt Holly https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/7707907/Rainbow-coalition-would-have-to-prop-up-the-coalition-of-losers.html Rainbow coalition would have to prop up the 'coalition of losers' The Daily Telegraph 11 May 2010 24 February 2013 live https://web.archive.org/web/20120424130142/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/7707907/Rainbow-coalition-would-have-to-prop-up-the-coalition-of-losers.html 24 April 2012 It was reported on 10 May that a meeting to discuss this scenario was held between Robertson, the SNP Chief Whip Stewart Hosie and Cabinet Office officials the previous evening.Perry David http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1729150 Rainbow alliance 'could be solution' Aberdeen Journals Aberdeen Press and Journal 10 May 2010 31 October 2012 However, Labour's Douglas Alexander said he could not foresee a situation in which Labour could enter into government with the SNP because the two parties had "fundamental differences", and he made it clear that no senior Labour officials had been approached by anyone from the SNP.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/scotland/8674214.stm Labour MP Douglas Alexander rules out deal with SNP BBC News 11 May 2010 31 October 2012 Coalition deal reached Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition agreement By 11 May, the possibility of a deal between the Liberal Democrats and Labour was looking unlikely. Talks between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats continued,https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/05/11/liberal-democrats-return-to-talks-with-tories-91466-26420453/ Liberal Democrats return to talks with Tories Trinity Mirror Western Mail 11 May 2010 16 December 2011 and after concluding that he would not be able to form a government, Brown announced his resignation that evening.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8675913.stm Gordon Brown resigns as UK prime minister BBC News 11 May 2010 16 December 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20130601102646/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8675913.stm 1 June 2013 He also resigned as leader of the Labour Party with immediate effect. He then left Downing Street with his wife and their children, and drove to Buckingham Palace where he tendered his resignation to the Queen and advised her to call for David Cameron.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/liveevent/ Election 2010 – Live coverage – General Election 2010 BBC News 11 May 2010 16 December 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20120313183641/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/liveevent 13 March 2012http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8676273.stm PM's full resignation statement BBC News 11 May 2010 16 December 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20160112123027/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8676273.stm 12 January 2016 Cameron became Prime Minister one hour after the Queen accepted Brown's resignation,http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8675265.stm David Cameron is UK's new prime minister 11 May 2010 BBC News 16 December 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20100513181000/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8675265.stm 13 May 2010 and arrived at Downing Street with his wife, Samantha shortly afterwards.Beckford Martin https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7712877/General-Election-2010-Timeline-of-the-day-David-Cameron-became-Prime-Minister.html General Election 2010: Timeline of the day David Cameron became Prime Minister The Daily Telegraph 12 May 2010 6 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20110311165549/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7712877/General-Election-2010-Timeline-of-the-day-David-Cameron-became-Prime-Minister.html 11 March 2011 In his first address outside 10 Downing Street, he announced his intention to form a coalition government, the first since the Second World War, with the Liberal Democrats. Cameron appointed Nick Clegg as Deputy Prime Minister. Cameron met with his MPs in the Committee Room of the House of Commons at 10:00 pm, where he was greeted with cheering that could be heard from the central hall of the Commons.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/david-cameron/7713272/David-Cameron-becomes-Prime-Minister-after-coalition-deal-with-Liberal-Democrats.html David Cameron becomes Prime Minister after coalition deal with Liberal Democrats The Daily Telegraph 12 May 2010 6 November 2010 Andrew Porter dead https://web.archive.org/web/20101113194435/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/david-cameron/7713272/David-Cameron-becomes-Prime-Minister-after-coalition-deal-with-Liberal-Democrats.html 13 November 2010 Cameron later told a BBC documentary that he had not expected to become prime minister, and the coalition agreement had not yet been completed when Brown resigned. Speaking on the programme, Five Days That Changed Britain, broadcast on 29 July, he said that when he went to meet the Queen at Buckingham Palace, the coalition deal had not been finalised. Formally, the monarch can only invite a prospective Prime Minister to form a government; the shape of the government is for the new prime minister to decide.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-10794180 Cameron 'unsure of government's form' as he met Queen BBC News 29 July 2010 17 December 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20120223174709/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-10794180 23 February 2012 William Hague said that as Cameron travelled to the Palace, the coalition agreement was still being completed and signed.http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00t8p52 Five Days That Changed Britain BBC 29 July 2010 6 November 2012 Nick Robinson live https://web.archive.org/web/20130701175534/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00t8p52 1 July 2013 Shortly after midnight on 12 May 2010, the Liberal Democrats emerged from a meeting of their Parliamentary party and Federal Executive to announce that the coalition deal had been "approved overwhelmingly", meaning that David Cameron would lead a coalition government of Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. Later that day, the two parties jointly published the Conservative – Liberal Democrat coalition agreement specifying the terms of the deal.http://www.conservatives.com/News/News_stories/2010/05/Coalition_Agreement_published.aspx Conservative Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement Conservative and Unionist Party 12 May 2010 13 May 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20100515024701/http://www.conservatives.com/News/News_stories/2010/05/Coalition_Agreement_published.aspx 15 May 2010http://libdems.org.uk/latest_news_detail.aspx?title=Conservative_Liberal_Democrat_coalition_agreements&pPK=2697bcdc-7483-47a7-a517-7778979458ff Conservative Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement Liberal Democrats 12 May 2010 16 December 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20111211134147/http://libdems.org.uk//latest_news_detail.aspx?title=Conservative_Liberal_Democrat_coalition_agreements&pPK=2697bcdc-7483-47a7-a517-7778979458ff 11 December 2011https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/may/12/lib-dem-tory-deal-coalition Full text of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition deal 12 May 2010 16 December 2011 The Guardian live https://web.archive.org/web/20130914222352/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/may/12/lib-dem-tory-deal-coalition 14 September 2013 Cameron appointed his first Cabinet, which included several senior Conservative and Liberal Democrat figures. From the Conservatives, George Osborne became Chancellor of the Exchequer, William Hague was named as Foreign Secretary as well as the honorary title of First Secretary of State and Oliver Letwin was appointed as Minister of State for the Cabinet Office. Liberal Democrat appointments included Danny Alexander as Secretary of State for Scotland, Chris Huhne as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, David Laws as Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Vince Cable became Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills and President of the Board of Trade.Willis Amy Chivers Tom https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/7713643/New-Cabinet-who-got-which-job.html New Cabinet: who got which job? The Daily Telegraph 12 May 2010 8 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20120422123307/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/7713643/New-Cabinet-who-got-which-job.html 22 April 2012 Cameron and Clegg gave their first joint press conference in the Downing Street Rose Garden on the afternoon of 12 May,O'Donoghue Gary http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8678370.stm Rose garden was like the 'Dave and Nick Show' BBC News 12 May 2010 6 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20120312171835/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8678370.stm 12 March 2012 Mayer Catherine http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1988861,00.html David Cameron, Nick Clegg: Britain's Hot New Bromance Time Warner Time 12 May 2010 6 November 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20121118164239/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1988861,00.html 18 November 2012 Webb Robert https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/7725351/For-David-Cameron-and-Nick-Clegg-read-Maverick-and-Iceman.html For David Cameron and Nick Clegg, read 'Maverick' and 'Iceman' The Daily Telegraph 14 May 2010 6 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20151120232448/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/7725351/For-David-Cameron-and-Nick-Clegg-read-Maverick-and-Iceman.html 20 November 2015 telling journalists the purpose of their government would be "[T]o give our country the strong, stable and decisive leadership we need".http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/politics/the-work-begins-1.1027314 The work begins Newsquest The Herald 13 May 2010 6 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20130521194301/http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/politics/the-work-begins-1.1027314 21 May 2013 The new Parliamentary session began with the State Opening of Parliament on 25 May.Burns John F. https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/26/world/europe/26britain.html?_r=0 New Parliament Dresses in Pageantry for Its First Day The New York Times 25 May 2010 6 November 2012 Cameron attended his first Prime Minister's Questions as Prime Minister on Wednesday 2 June.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10206840 BBC News Cameron 'alarmed and shocked' by Cumbria shootings 2 June 2010 6 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20150925133356/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10206840 25 September 2015 Labour became the party of opposition,https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/7713670/Labour-MPs-to-meet-for-first-time-in-opposition.html Labour MPs to meet for first time in opposition The Daily Telegraph 12 May 2010 6 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20110311165552/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/7713670/Labour-MPs-to-meet-for-first-time-in-opposition.html 11 March 2011 and with Brown's departure, Harriet Harman became its acting leader.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8676333.stm Brown quits: Harriet Harman made acting Labour leader BBC News 11 May 2010 16 December 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20170902190645/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8676333.stm 2 September 2017 On 18 May 2010 Labour's National Executive Committee announced the details of the leadership election.New Labour leader to be elected at September conference http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8688959.stm BBC News 18 May 2010 28 October 2012 Ed Miliband was elected as the party's new leader at its annual national conference on 25 September 2010.Ed Miliband wins Labour leadership race Patrick Sawer https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/8024861/Ed-Miliband-wins-Labour-leadership-race.html The Daily Telegraph 25 September 2010 28 October 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20110402215131/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/8024861/Ed-Miliband-wins-Labour-leadership-race.html 2 April 2011 See also Politics United Kingdom Coalition (film), 2015 television film about the formation of the coalition government Notes References 30em Further reading Adonis Andrew Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis 5 Days in May: The Coalition and Beyond 2013 London Biteback Publishing 978-1-84954-566-2 registration https://archive.org/details/5daysinmaycoalit0000adon Hazell Robert Yong Ben The Politics of Coalition: How the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Government Works 2012 Oxford Hart Publishing 978-1-84946-310-2 Heppell Timothy Seawright David Cameron and the Conservatives: The Transition to Coalition Government 2012 Basingstoke, England Palgrave Macmillan 978-0-230-31410-8 Laws David David Laws 22 Days in May: The Birth of the Lib Dem–Conservative Coalition 2010 London Biteback Publishing 978-1-84954-080-3 Lee Simon Beech Matt The Cameron-Clegg Government: Coalition Politics in an Age of Austerity 2011 Basingstoke, England Palgrave Macmillan 978-0-230-29644-2 Wilson Rob Rob Wilson 5 Days to Power: The Journey to Coalition Britain 2010 London Biteback Publishing 978-1-84954-081-0 External links UK elections: David Cameron becomes Prime Minister http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8677552.stm Election 2010 Timeline: How coalition was agreed BBC News 13 May 2011 18 December 2011 Government formation Government formation Category:Premiership of Gordon Brown Category:Premiership of David Cameron Category:Nick Clegg 2010 Category:History of the Conservative Party (UK) Category:History of the Labour Party (UK) Category:History of the Liberal Democrats (UK) Government formation